Engage with Wadoryu
Engage with Wadoryu
Karate clubs, in general, are usually run by loud, shouting, egotistical instructors who’s only aim in life is to inflict as much pain and suffering on their students as they possibly can.
Generally, we find, that this type of instructor has very little intelligence, as the instructor places his students in a position of inferiority, so a student has no ability to grow to understand through questioning the techniques being taught (I have observed many karate instructors, such as this, with these ‘superiority complexes’). However in Wadoryu, on the other hand, being a more ‘intellectually-motivated’ system, tends to cater for the more intellectually-responsive student. The reason for this, of course, is that the Wadoryu system requires an active open-mind that is susceptible to receive the required information; especially due to the vastness of the knowledge available.
Wadoryu needs students who are receptive, rather than cowering in the corners of the Dojo in a trembling mass of fear. Yes, there will always be a need for a degree of discipline in many Wado Dojo, which is why ‘self-discipline’ is always encouraged rather than an overbearing ‘forced’ discipline, which is additionally maintained by a league of immature bullying ‘assistant instructors’.
The Founder of Wadoryu, Hironori Ohtsuka Meijin, said himself; “If Wadoryu was soup, then the karate part was a pinch a salt!”
Many Karate styles have very little to offer, in the way of variation of technique, as they just rely on striking and kicking, so they tend to rely totally on bullying and intimidation to maintain attention to the class. A student only has to look of the variety of technique available on the British Wadokai websites to see just how much Wadoryu compares to generic Karate systems. If an instructor has to shout and constantly discipline his students, then I fear that the instructor and/or style is not enough to engage the student’s interest, and they are lost. A student who doesn’t want to learn, or becomes disruptive, will tend to either leave or be invited to leave anyway, this is a matter of personal choice. However, why force a student to be there, if he doesn’t want to train or take the training seriously? Just let him go...
In Wadoryu, a student progresses through the system and ‘evolves’ techniques, stances, and fundamentals related to his grading requirements as he goes. The progress is natural and very demanding with each step of the way, due to each step covering new principles, etc. Progress in Wadoryu is made by gently explained instruction and personal experience through trial and error - The student learns from himself, as well as the instructor and others.
Remember, Wadoryu is NOT karate, Wadoryu is NOT Jujutsu - Wadoryu is an amalgam of both, which is a system of its own.
We do not follow the modern karate mentality of cloning a student into looking (or thinking) like his instructor, we allow the student to grow within himself to become a better person and to become better than his instructor. Teach through example, not through fear.
Gary E Swift Kyoshi.
Karate clubs, in general, are usually run by loud, shouting, egotistical instructors who’s only aim in life is to inflict as much pain and suffering on their students as they possibly can.
Generally, we find, that this type of instructor has very little intelligence, as the instructor places his students in a position of inferiority, so a student has no ability to grow to understand through questioning the techniques being taught (I have observed many karate instructors, such as this, with these ‘superiority complexes’). However in Wadoryu, on the other hand, being a more ‘intellectually-motivated’ system, tends to cater for the more intellectually-responsive student. The reason for this, of course, is that the Wadoryu system requires an active open-mind that is susceptible to receive the required information; especially due to the vastness of the knowledge available.
Wadoryu needs students who are receptive, rather than cowering in the corners of the Dojo in a trembling mass of fear. Yes, there will always be a need for a degree of discipline in many Wado Dojo, which is why ‘self-discipline’ is always encouraged rather than an overbearing ‘forced’ discipline, which is additionally maintained by a league of immature bullying ‘assistant instructors’.
The Founder of Wadoryu, Hironori Ohtsuka Meijin, said himself; “If Wadoryu was soup, then the karate part was a pinch a salt!”
Many Karate styles have very little to offer, in the way of variation of technique, as they just rely on striking and kicking, so they tend to rely totally on bullying and intimidation to maintain attention to the class. A student only has to look of the variety of technique available on the British Wadokai websites to see just how much Wadoryu compares to generic Karate systems. If an instructor has to shout and constantly discipline his students, then I fear that the instructor and/or style is not enough to engage the student’s interest, and they are lost. A student who doesn’t want to learn, or becomes disruptive, will tend to either leave or be invited to leave anyway, this is a matter of personal choice. However, why force a student to be there, if he doesn’t want to train or take the training seriously? Just let him go...
In Wadoryu, a student progresses through the system and ‘evolves’ techniques, stances, and fundamentals related to his grading requirements as he goes. The progress is natural and very demanding with each step of the way, due to each step covering new principles, etc. Progress in Wadoryu is made by gently explained instruction and personal experience through trial and error - The student learns from himself, as well as the instructor and others.
Remember, Wadoryu is NOT karate, Wadoryu is NOT Jujutsu - Wadoryu is an amalgam of both, which is a system of its own.
We do not follow the modern karate mentality of cloning a student into looking (or thinking) like his instructor, we allow the student to grow within himself to become a better person and to become better than his instructor. Teach through example, not through fear.
Gary E Swift Kyoshi.
